Huge legs of parma ham can often be seen hanging from large hooks on the ceiling in some delis, particularly Italian ones. Spanish ones will often have legs of Serrano ham on a huge wooden board and gripped by bolts to ensure easy slicing. You can buy the sliced parma to take home, but some delis will give you a platter with baby onions, olives and crusty bread to eat in or takeaway for lunch.

Delicatessens

Pate

A variety of delicious pates such as chicken, liver, pork and pistachio and vegetarian pates can be purchased in delis or made into baguettes to takeaway. Often in large pottery containers, you merely say how much you want and it will be cut and packaged for you.

Delicatessens

Quiche

Wow! Amazing selections of handmade quiches are always available to try, with a huge combination of flavours and pastry types. Most popular are usually the standard cheese and bacon (quiche Lorraine) or a rich roasted vegetable. Can be purchased in slices or some delis make small individual ones. They can be packed for takeaway to include a selection of salads.

Delicatessens, Cafes

Sandwiches

Always available to takeaway, a large variety of sandwich fillings can be purchased and made with the fresh bread on sale in the deli, or already made for you to choose. Great fun to mix and match your sandwich or baguette fillings and try a number of things that you may not normally eat. Very fresh and made to order is the way to go.

Delicatessens

Tarts

Selection of delicious fruit tarts, either individual or large and all made by hand. Delicate pastry with a creamy custard base with all kinds of fruit from apples to berries. Often with a jelly glaze they are pretty delicious. Other traditional tarts and desserts are available, and sometimes hot puddings such as bread and butter pudding and sticky toffee pudding – watch your waistline!

Delicatessens, Dessert

Cheese

Probably the most interesting cabinet in a deli, they all stock a big range of English and Continental cheeses as well as unusual artisan cheeses made by small local producers. All the usual cheeses are available, particularly standard ones such as English Cheddar and Stilton, and French bried and Camembert but do try the more unusual ones. Cheeses are cut to size you require from big blocks, and can be made into a lunchbox with salad, pickles and crusty fresh bread.

Delicatessens

Milkshakes

A selection of milkshakes can be available some to include ice cream, an others made more into a dessert style with nuts and chocolate on the top. Usual flavours are vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and butterscotch, but banana is also popular in some delis. Can be taken away in the usual takeout cups with lids and straw.

Delicatessens

Cappucino

Always available to drink, cappuccino coffee can sometimes be drunk inside if the deli has tables, or taken away. Variety of other coffees, teas, cold drinks are also available. Coffee is normally served with delicate little Italian biscuits, usually almond flavoured.